8 For zby grace you have been saved athrough faith. And this is bnot your own doing; cit is the gift of God,9 dnot a result of works, eso that no one may boast. 10 For fwe are his workmanship, gcreated in Christ Jesushfor good works, iwhich God prepared beforehand, jthat we should walk in them.
One in Christ
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called kthe circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—12 remember lthat you were at that time separated from Christ, malienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to nthe covenants of promise, ohaving no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were pfar off have been brought near qby the blood of Christ. 14 For rhe himself is our peace, swho has made us both one and has broken down tin his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in uordinances, that he might create in himself one vnew man in place of the two, so making peace,16 and might wreconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and xpreached peace to you who were yfar off and peace to those who were znear. 18 For athrough him we both have baccess in cone Spirit to the Father.
Last nights devotional reminds me that satan has a hold on the hearts of those that do not beleive. And so many times we aproach people that do not beleive with hopes of reaching out to them and yet we often forget this and should always stop and pray that God would release this hold and clear a way . I get so aggrevated with some that refuse to see the hope that is in Christ and the indesputible reality of His creation. After all it is right in front of them! but I must remember that it may not be all their fault. They are in fact still dead in their sin.
ReplyDeleteDoug And Donna Waldo
Notice the difference between our old life and our new one He has given us. We were far away, now we are near. We once had hostility with God and our fellow man, now He is our peace!
ReplyDeleteAlso, the word WE stuck out to us. It doesn't say that YOU are his workmanship. It is a collective WE. WE, Together, all the saints both Jews and Gentiles that have believed are ONE workmanship and TOGETHER we were made for good works we should walk in. This is not about our individual story. This is about His story written on all of us. We are a team, and there is no room for any workmanship or show piece that is somehow alone.
As I read this I am reminded that we are saved by grace, and God wants us to be one united body, created to do good works. The walls of hostility have been destroyed. As Christians we need to work together to further God's Kingdom.
ReplyDeleteThe blood of Christ covers us and allows us to be near to him. The cross is our bridge to unity with our creator and ourselves. We as a result should produce good works to boast not in ourselves but to bring glory to our God.
ReplyDeleteThankful that it is not all about rules and regulations. We can be united with each other and Jesus through His precious gift of salvation.
ReplyDeleteKaren